Advanced Building Materials for Sustainable Construction

The construction industry is a major consumer of natural resources and a significant contributor to environmental degradation. Conventional concrete, primarily composed of cement and natural aggregates, is a key source of high energy consumption and (CO2) emissions, alongside the depletion of natural reserves. Cement production alone accounts for a considerable portion of global carbon emissions, making it imperative to explore alternatives that are efficient and sustainable. Similarly, the heavy reliance on natural aggregates exacerbates environmental issues, including habitat destruction and resource scarcity. In this context, the utilization of highly generative natural or man-made waste materials in concrete can offer environmental benefits and improvements in concrete quality and performance.

This proposed special issue aims to consolidate the latest research advancements in developing sustainable construction materials. It will focus on innovative approaches to incorporating alternative materials and enhancing concrete performance to meet modern construction requirements while minimizing environmental impacts.

The key objective is to understand the potential of alternative waste materials as construction material components. Topics of interest include performance investigations of cement paste, mortars, concrete, etc., through:
o Material Characterization and Microstructural Analysis
o Evaluation of Mechanical and Durability Properties
o Innovative Testing Methodologies for Performance Evaluation
o Life Cycle Assessment and Cost-Effectiveness of Waste Materials in Construction

Thematic Areas
1. Advanced Cementitious Materials:
o Utilization of supplementary cementitious materials
o Development of low-carbon cement and hybrid cementitious systems
o Innovative chemical admixtures for improved performance
2. Innovative Concrete Production:
o Synthesis and optimization of geopolymer binders
o Development of lightweight concrete/foam concrete
o Low-strength and radio-active concrete
o Alternative innovative techniques for mix design formulations
3. Utilization of Hazardous Wastes in Concrete:
o Incorporation of industrial and municipal wastes such as e-waste, mining residues, plastics, etc.
o Practical applications via case studies
4. Alternative Reinforcements for Concrete Structures:
o Basalt, glass, and carbon fiber reinforced polymers
o Recycled metal reinforcements
o Waste fiber reinforced concrete
5. Functionalizing Building Materials:
o Nano-engineered, self-healing, self-cleaning, self-compacting
o Coated, photocatalytic, and hydrophobic materials
6. Innovative Testing Techniques for Concrete Performance

Evaluation:
o Non-destructive testing methods for real-time monitoring
o Advanced durability evaluation methods
o Microstructural and nano-scale characterization techniques
7. Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Construction:
o Comparative LCAs of traditional and alternative materials
o Integration of LCA in material design and selection
o Strategies for reducing carbon footprints and cost-effectiveness in projects

This special issue will serve as a comprehensive resource for the latest advancements in sustainable construction materials. By emphasizing environmental benefits and performance enhancements of alternative materials, it aims to drive the construction industry towards a greener and more sustainable future. Researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers are encouraged to contribute their findings and insights to make this initiative a success.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Sustainable Construction, Green Materials, Life Cycle

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.